On Monday, January 18, 2021, Habitat Charlotte Region kicked off our Beloved Community initiative, which included our annual MLK Build project. We announced this year’s MLK Build Homeowner-in-Process Yasmine. This is her story.

Every little girl has a dream – eyes wide and visions of “one day”, she is full of wishes and hopes that her dream will come true.

As a young girl growing up on the family farm in Marshville, N.C., Yasmine woke early every day to help feed the chickens, goats, pigs and cows before school. Her close-knit family – parents, aunts, uncles and great grandparents – were all within walking distance and enjoyed spending a lot of time together.

Yasmine also loved to visit her grandmother in Charlotte – the “big city” she said always excited her.

“I’ve always wanted to travel and be in a big city,” Yasmine said. “And as soon as I turned 18-years-old I got a car and I left Marshville.” Yearning for that big city vibe, she moved to Charlotte where she currently resides with her three children. She does, however, take the 40-minute trek back to her roots every now and then. “But I still can’t wait to get back to the city,” she said.

The family of four was getting a bit cramped in their Rock Hill apartment they have lived in since 2014 and Yasmine really wanted a house for her growing family. She heard about Habitat for Humanity from the church she attended.

“I was just driving one day and thought – ‘I should call Habitat – why not?’ So I Googled it and applied. I was informed I needed to pay down $2,000 of debt to qualify. My godfather gave me the money. That’s how I qualified. I have always wanted a house and I was so grateful.”

Last year, Yasmine lost her job due to the COVID-19 pandemic. After applying for several jobs, she eventually landed with the United States Post Office as a mail carrier – a very essential role in our country’s landscape right now.

“This is an emotional time, especially with my children,” she said of balancing what’s happening in society with the excitement of what’s happening in her life – owning a home of her own. “It’s a bit overwhelming. I feel pressure to do this and not be a failure to my kids. I encourage them to do their best.”

The kids are most excited about having their own rooms especially “after sharing rooms in that tiny apartment we have outgrown,” she said. They are also looking forward to having a back yard where they can play and hang out. Their furry family member – Rocko – is happy about that as well.

“I feel like this is a great time to buy a home. I never thought I would be able to purchase a home of my own and I’m so thankful for Habitat,” Yasmine said.